Applications Open for American Banker’s Best Banks to Work For 2026
The prestigious annual program of American Banker, Best Banks to Work For, is now accepting applications for the year 2026. This program has been recognizing the top employers within the banking industry for the past 14 years, distinguishing those that excel in maintaining steady employee engagement and prioritizing aspects like communication, support, well-being, and workplace fun.
In the previous year, 90 banks were honored, including recurring awardees like Oakworth Capital Bank and Pinnacle Financial Partners, and newcomers like Wood & Huston Bank, which managed to secure the top spot. The complete list of honorees can be found here.
Eligibility Criteria and Application Process
There is no fee to apply or participate in the Best Banks to Work For program. To be eligible, applicants must be savings banks, commercial banks, thrifts, mutual associations, mutual savings banks, or savings and loan associations that have been in operation for at least one year. Furthermore, they must have a minimum of 50 full- or part-time employees based in the United States.
The selection process is conducted in association with the Best Companies Group, which determines the rankings based on two assessments. The first is a comprehensive questionnaire to be filled out by the banks and their CEOs, focusing on employee benefits and policies. The second is an employee survey concentrating on eight areas of engagement and satisfaction, including leadership and planning, work environment, pay and benefits, and training, development and resources.
Important Dates
All interested banks must submit their applications by June 19. The deadlines for each step of the Best Banks to Work For program can be found here. The rankings are traditionally published by American Banker in early November.
Previous Coverage and Program Details
The coverage of Best Banks to Work For 2025 included short profiles of each honoree, a feature story about the top-ranked bank, and two stories about employee and workplace trends. The program also provided separate rankings by bank-asset category. The entire 2025 program can be accessed here.
For any queries related to the application process, interested parties can reach out to Allissa Kline at [email protected].
Exclusion of Credit Unions
It should be noted that credit unions are not eligible to apply for the Best Banks to Work For program as there is a separate program for them. The application deadline for the Best Credit Unions to Work For program is May 1, 2026.
For more information, the original source can be found here.
